Queen City Black Comix Day Participant Andre Batts

Midwest BSFA: How did you get into drawing?Batts: I had been drawing since I was a child. I would draw Marvel and D.C. characters and different album covers, such as Parliament Funkadelic, Earth Wind & Fire, and so on. I guess it was just in me.

Midwest BSFA: What inspires you? Batts: I’m inspired by the books I read, the movies that are constantly on the big screen. Marvel, D.C. and Image comics keep me inspired due to lack of ethnicity in their characters (by that I mean characters from scratch…not turning characters from white to black).

Midwest BSFA: How does geek culture help you do what you love? Batts: Once a geek always a geek! It’s not the geek culture that keeps me motivated! It’s just I love to write and draw. It’s enbedded in me to be that way.

Midwest BSFA: What advice do you have for young artists of color?Batts: Stay true to their craft and themselves.